Year:
2004
Studio:
Paramount Pictures/Brooklyn Films
Feature:
4/5
Sky Captain and the World
of Tomorrow is a film that harkens back to 1930's serials like
Flash Gordon. The year is about 1940, a 1940 from a 1930 perspective.
No World War II looms on the horizon. Airships and other skyships are
commonplace. Ray guns and giant monster robots exist. There are still
mysterious places in the world like Shangri-La.
Someone has been kidnapping top German scientists scattered the world.
Newspaper Reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) has been writing
about it and gets a big break when the seventh scientist contacts her,
knowing he will be the last victim. But before he can explain
everything to her (other than mentioning the name Totenkopf), giant
robots attack New York.
The police can't stop the giant mecha, which march down the streets,
sowing destruction. A call goes out to the elite mercenary forces of
Sky Captain. Sky Captain comes to the rescue in his souped up Mustang
fighter. Strangely throughout the movie he's the only one of his
mercenary force who actually gets out there and does anything. They
have a fleet of fighters and airships at their base and they're never
scrambled. Maybe it's a trope of the genre.
In any case, Polly visits Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan (Jude Law) at his
base. She knows he has a story and she wants in on it. We quickly find
out that Polly and Joe have a history which came to an end when Joe was
captured by the Japanese. Joe thinks Polly sabotaged his plane so she
could get an exclusive picture with Tojo.
|
Polly worms her way in and join Joe
in the search for Dr Totenkopf (Sir Laurence Olivier appearing in
archival footage, kind of neat in that Totenkopf only appears as a sort
of hologram, which covers up the any film quality disparities).
Apparently Totenkopf has been sending robot squads, capturing supplies
and material from around the world, in order to build some sort of
Doomsday Weapon.
The search for Totenkopf leads the duo around the world to Nepal and
beyond to a remote island where the final confrontation with the
villain awaits. It's about this time when Captain Francesca Cook
(Angelina Jolie) finally makes her appearance. The fate of the world
will eventually depend on Joe and Polly on a rocket ship hurtling
towards the stars.
The whole is intentional overexposed to give it a too-white look. Not
only does it give it more of a black-and-white 1930's serial effect
while still allowing color, but it makes it easier to slide in the
special effects. I truly couldn't tell what was CGI and what was
practical because everything is overexposed and shiny and white.
The whole mood of the movie replicates the 1930's science fiction
serial very well, if those 30's serials had had great special effects.
All the tech is standard science fiction for the time. The action is
fast and furious with Joe wielding his pistol with expertise. The whole
End of the World finale is a big bang ending worthy of the genre.
There are funny moments, especially with Joe and Polly's relationship.
It's a hate-but-secretly-in-love thing that is slowly revealed
throughout the film. The ending is precious. Not romantic but it just
seems to capture the whole relationship in one word and one look. This
is a good movie.
|